Since anyone who had come this far clearly wasn't willing to take such a risk for nothing, no one needed to hear much more. Before long, someone strode wordlessly down one of the green stone corridors without a moment's hesitation.
Moments later, that person's figure vanished silently into the passage.
With someone leading the way, the others quickly followed suit.
After watching Wan Tianming and his group each choose a corridor and disappear inside, Ji Yin and the other old demonic cultivators merely watched coldly, showing no urgency to enter themselves.
Grand Elder Ji Yin cast a cold glance at the two white-robed elders who remained seated cross-legged, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly pulled a glittering bracelet from his person.
Strung on the chain were four oval beads the size of a thumb, each emitting a faint cyan glow.
"These are Brahman Beads, possessing a remarkable effect of calming the spirit and soothing the soul. With all four beads on your person, even if the dangers of the Illusory Illusion Realm were to suddenly increase several fold, they should keep your mind clear." Having said this, Grand Elder Ji Yin solemnly handed the bracelet to Han Li.
Han Li was secretly delighted and made no refusal, accepting it while offering repeated thanks.
He had long heard of the reputation of these Brahman Beads. It was said that carrying just one on one's person during cultivation could greatly reduce the interference of inner demons — they were treasures of extreme rarity.
Yet Grand Elder Ji Yin had lavishly strung four of them together into a bracelet and, to ensure Han Li could pass through the final trial, had simply handed it over.
This was truly beyond anything Han Li had expected!
Judging by the reluctant, pained look on Ji Yin's face, even if he couldn't bring himself to demand their return immediately after the trial, he would certainly reclaim them once Han Li had served his purpose in retrieving the treasure.
However, inside the Void Heaven Hall, everyone harbored their own ulterior motives. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator like Grand Elder Ji Yin had someone secretly plotting against him — Xuan Gu. Whether this nominal master of his could even walk out of the Void Heaven Hall alive was something Han Li deeply doubted.
Han Li put the bracelet on his wrist right in front of Ji Yin and examined it more closely.
These Brahman Beads were neither wood nor metal, yet they carried a gentle sandalwood-like fragrance that wafted softly from their surface. A single whiff sent a cool sensation through the head and invigorated the spirit.
Truly extraordinary!
"In theory, these few Brahman Beads should be sufficient. But to be safe, Young Friend Han, take this with you as well." At this point, the Confucian-robed elder produced a cyan talisman and handed it to Han Li with a smile. "This is the Azure Astral Needle Talisman Treasure that I refined from my own cultivation. Its power is absolutely several times greater than ordinary magical treasures. Keep it on you for protection."
"An Azure Astral Needle Talisman Treasure?" At these words, Han Li was first taken aback, but excitement quickly followed.
This was a talisman treasure forged by a Nascent Soul cultivator — it was in an entirely different league from those worthless talisman treasures.
Although the "Evil-Severing Divine Thunder" of his Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Swords was formidable, he couldn't exactly use it without restraint. With this in hand, his safety would naturally gain several more layers of assurance.
Han Li made no polite pretense and accepted it as well, offering his respectful thanks.
At that moment, the Barbarian Beard tossed over a pitch-black inner armor without a word. It was studded with silver-white scales and looked quite heavy.
"Brother Barbarian is truly generous — to part with this extraordinary treasure, the 'Emperor Scale Armor,' to protect my little disciple's life. I thank you on his behalf!" Ji Yin's expression shifted slightly at the sight of the armor, and a flash of greed crossed his face before he quickly spoke up.
"A hundred years ago, this armor might still have been of some use to me. But now that my Heaven-Supporting Technique is already perfected, this thing can be lent to the brat for the time being to keep him alive. I hope he won't disappoint me! Otherwise, heh heh…" The Barbarian Beard shot Han Li a cold, sinister look as he spoke.
Hearing this, Han Li's expression shifted subtly.
When Ji Yin heard that the armor was merely a loan, a trace of disappointment flashed across his face before vanishing without a trace. He then said with a smile:
"Good! With these treasures protecting my little disciple's body, he should be able to escape unscathed no matter what unexpected dangers arise. Let us go retrieve the treasure. The opening of these passages is time-limited."
At these words, neither the Barbarian Beard nor the old man raised any objections, but they made no move to leave. Instead, they gave Han Li a long, meaningful look first.
Han Li blinked, then let out a bitter smile.
It seemed these people still feared he might lose his nerve at the last moment and wanted to personally watch him walk in first.
So with a faint smile on his face, Han Li casually chose one of the passages and stepped inside.
Only then did Ji Yin and the old man exchange smiles, select the remaining three corridors one by one, and walk in after him.
"Don't you find the behavior of the demonic cultivators rather strange?" Once the stone hall held only the two white-robed elders, the cold-faced one — expressionless with closed eyes — spoke slowly.
His voice carried a chilling quality.